Apparatus for testing water levels



Nov. 28, 1933. c. L. HOWSE APPARATUS FOR TESTING WATER LEVELS I Filed March 31, 1930 INVENTOR C'urfzs fi on'se BY mtg ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES ArrAnArUs "Fort TESTING WATER navELs cures Howse,Det1'-oit, Mich., assignor,to.. A V a,

Diamond Power Specialty Gorpration, 1 )etroit,"- v j )3 Mich a corporation of Michigan" 14: Claims (cl fs-54) I v This invention relates to an apparatus for test-' ing water levels and has particular reierence to an apparatus for determining the level of the water in a boiler orthe like.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus-by which the levelof the water in a boiler maybe'accurately determined regardless of the pressure at; which the boiler is operated. I j

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction and, therefore, capable of economical manufacture ona commer- H cial scale and which'may readily beutilized by m unskilled labor. *Other objec't'sa'nd advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds; I

Heretofore it-has been'customary to provide "a pluralityof try-cocks on the water column on boiler for testingthe water level in the boiler; These try cocks comprise a series of valves installed one'above the other, which valves .can be M H successivelyj'opened to discharge the fluid from the boiler at spacedlevels. Observation i's'then made as to whether water or steam escapes f rom the boiler to determine the level of the water within the boilen' These test-cocks which have heretofore been 3 used for testing the water'level in a boiler are not adaptedlfor thet'esting of the water level in a high pressurefboiler because at high pressuresthe water flashes; into steam when released from the test-cock" and the ,operator unable to tell as whether h isvreleasing W t Steam mm the boilerupon the opening of any of the valves. The present invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus which"w illr function efficiently to advise thefoperator of the levelcf the water. in a 0 boiler regardless of the pressure at which the boilerj is operated and thus contemplates the provision' of an apparatus in whichthe disadvantages of the oldtest-cock system are eliminated. I V Broadly," the apparatus provides meansior tappiijfg' the boilerata plurality of spaced levels' to draw a' fluid from the boiler at each level. There is further provided means for trapping the fluid drawn from the boiler at each level and means for indicating'wheth'er water orst'eam is trapped at each level. The apparatus is shown in the singlesemi diagrammatic figure of the accompanyingdrawing. t

Referring then particularly to the drawing the referencecharacteriii-designatesa boiler drum, the'normal water level therein being'indicated by the "reference characterill. A water column. 12 communicates with the boiler' drum above' and below the normal water level therein asby the conduits 13*and14. 7 I

e Connecting into the water column ataiplurality ofspaced levels are conduits 1 5. Each-"ofthese conduits is provided withva valve or try-cock lfifl and, each conduit discharges into a headef-gl'l which communicates with a metering or ex ng sion chamber'18; Theexpansion chamber is mv vided witha discharge-conduit m controlled-by avalve 20 and is further provided'with a pres-I;

sure gauge 21 arranged to indicate the pressure within the chamber. The discharge "conduit'm'! terminates-inf a restricted discharge-orifice;19F.

With the apparatus above. described; several of the 'water in the boiler drum 10; Thus the valve 20 may be left inopen positionian'd r I lfi'maybe successively opened, oneata time.

each try-cock is opened fluid :wnr flow from the I I boiler at thele vel of thefconduitfwith which the;

methods may be utilized for determining the'level '7 try -cockis associatedand willbef'di'schargejdinto; the chamber 18. The gauge on this ehamberwill showthe pressure withinthe same and will{ show: a higher pressure if wateris discharged int'othe chambef than' if steam-isdischarged therein.

Thus, the gauge indicatefwhether water or steam is discharged; into" the-chamber 18 upon the opening of anyone of the testcocks' and' the level of :the water in lthG boilermay befdeterfmined by reading the gauge as each try-cockiis opened. The size of the .openingin' each valv'e 16 and itsaccompanying conduit l5 maylrbefso proportioned with respect to thesize of the,openl-,

inginvalve20 andits accompanyingconduit 19 as to producethe maximum pressure-differential I H t, on thejgau'ge21 for the different conditions of 1:

steam or water flow throughsaid valveld and conduit 15 "The ratio m the size of theseo'peiiw v ings may be conveniently varied in accordance with the pressure in' the boiler drum to produce;

this desired pressure effect in the chamber 18 as v a registered by the gaug'efi21,

A second methodwhich maybeutili'zd in junction with the above-described apparatus wm s fi' r t os nev vei 2 a e top na ing "one of thevalves 1.6 to flll i the chamber? 18 W a-flui d w from ti i valve 16 isithen closed'and thevalve 20 is opened I to'permit a discharge of the fluid from th QI la IIl-o ber 18 through conduit 19. "If the metering down will result tha'n ifthe chamberis filled with'water so that byiolloW n this procedure for each valve 16, the'level of the'water inthe boiler. drum; may be, accurately determined? From the above it will be apparent that the in;

vention provides an apparatusby which a boiler drum may be tapped ate-plurality offspaced I levels. The invention further provides: f r' trapv p ping the fluid drawn from the b'oiler'at'ea'ch level -and for indicating whether water-or steamlfis' drawn fromjthe boiler at" each "level either "by ressure responsive meansfsuchas the au e 21 v or by suitable discharge means such as the conduit 19Vand valve 20. The fluid. drawn from the boiler drum is limited, in its expansion in the gjclaims' What i rl 2. An apparatus for determining-the 7 water in a boilerincluding in combination a} chamber '18 and will not, therefore, flash'finto',

steam as results if the try-cocks are opened directly to the atmosphere, and the inventiontherea fore. provides for the testing of the water level in aboiler regardless of the the boiler is operated. i

While the invention has ,been described with considerable detail it is to 'b'eunderstoo'dthatf the description is illustrative only and isanot defir'ii-l tive of thelimits of the inventive idea. The right is therefor reserved to make such changesin. the details of construction and arrangementof parts as will fall. within the. purview of the attached 41,. 'An apparatus for determining; thiiflevelof water in a high pressure boiler including m me; bination, means for tapping said boiler at any one of aplurality of spaced levels, an dmeansiincludinga chamber communicating with said tappingnieans providing. a relatively lowpressure zone fordistinguishing between thedischarge of steam and water at eachof said levels.

level of chamber providinga relatively low pressure zone, means for placing said chamber in=com nunication with said boiler at any one of a plurality of spaced levels,, and-1a. pressure findicator communica'ting with said chamberffor determining water in a boiler including: in combination, meansv for vtapping said boiler at a plurality of spacedwhether water or steamds discharged into said chamberfron said boiler at'each of said levels. a

3; An apparatus for determining the level of levels, a chamber providing a relatively low fpressure zone for receiving the ,fiuid' discharged from said boiler at each of said levels, an-outlet consaid outlet conduit.

:duit' for said chamber, anda valve controlling .4. An apparatus forldeterming; level of water in a boiler including in combination, means for tapping said boiler at eachoi a pluralityiof spaced levels, a chamber providing a relatively charged ateach leveL- apressure gauge, and

means communicating said pressure gauge with' said chamber for indicating the-pressure therein. b 5. An apparatus fordetermining. theilevel of water in a boiler; includingin .combination,,' a

plurality of, conduits communicating with said boiler at aplurality of'spacedllevels,valves controlling theflpassage ofjnuid from,said boiler through said conduits, Qachamber providing a relatively low pressure Zone for receiving the fluid j drawn from 'said b'oiler.through said conduitsga discharge conduit" for said chamberQa pressure mean chamber;

gaugai'and'meansconnecting saidp'ressure gauge l v a v6, An-apparatus .for-determiningthe level of a from thepressurein theboiler, means forplacing said restricted zone in communication with said boilerat} a'ny one of aiplur'alitycf spacedlevels;

7; Anapparatus-for determining. the level of water'in a'boiler includingin combination means providing'a restricted zone. differing in pressure to permit the Jdischarge of fluid from the boiler into said Zone, andmeansto determine the characterof .the'fluidin said restrictedvzone V waterlziri a boilerincluding .infcombination" a conduit-communicating? with said boiler, at a pre.- 1 determined level, :a valve. centrqlling the flow of the-degree of said expansion.

8. An apparatusfor determining-the level of pressure 'at. which,

let; I V

' conduits establishing communication between of a predetermined limited quantity of fiuidvfrom atmosphere,

fluid from said boiler through said conduit, means providingior a limited expansion of the fluid discharged from said conduitin'. a zone of lower pressure than said boiler, and means to determine water. in a high pressure boiler including in combination a chamber providing 'a restricted zone of relatively low pressure, conduits connecting said chamber with saidboiler at a plurality of spaced.

levels in the boiler, said conduitsproviding pas-- sages'betweensaid boiler and said chamber of such cross sectionalv area that a substantial drop in the pressure of the fluid will result upon flow of the fluid through said conduits to said chamber, and a valve associated with each conduit. for

, controlling the flow of ,fluidthrough the samei 9.- In an apparatus of the I class described; all

expansion chamber, means providing a restricted for tapping"; said boiler at a plurality of spaced levels, a chamber providing a restrictedz one for receiving the fluid discharged from said boiler at any one of said-levels, an outlet'conduitior said chamber, and a valve controlling said outll/In an apparatusfor determininggthelevel? of water in a boiler,achamber providingarej stricted Zone, a plurality of valved controlled said chamb er and the, boiler atla plurality of v a spaced .levels; whereby. 'a predetermined limited quantity of fluid maybe Withdrawn from said boiler intosaid chamber at any one of said levels,

an outlet conduit for said chamber, and valve controlling said outlet.

of water in aboiler, a chamber providing a restricted zone, means providing for the withdrawal of a predetermined"limitedfquantity of ,iiuid into 12.In an apparatusfor ,detern lininglthe level said chamber from said boiler at any one of. .a J

plurality of spaced, levels, and meansfcontrolling the: discharge of saidpredetermined limitedq uan titygof fluid from said'chamber. a v

13. In an apparatus for determiningfthe level of water in a boiler, a chamber providing a re. strictedzone, means connecting said chamber to said boiler at aplurality of spaced levels com-j" prising a plurality of conduits, a valve; in each of said conduits controlling communication be tween said chamber and the boiler operable-to permit the withdrawal of a predeterminedlimr,

ited quantity of fluid from said boiler into said 7 chamber andto close communication between. said chamber and the boiler, adisoha-rge con duit from said chamber leading to. atmosphere, A

and. a valve in said discharge conduit controlling communication between, said conduit andfatmosphereQ 1.4. In an" I apparatus for determing the level of water in a"boiler',abhambered; vessel, means i 1' providing .for the withdrawaliinto said'vessel said boiler at any. one of a plurality of spaced leywithin said vessel said predetermined-limited quantity of fluid, onepf said valvescontrfolling I lthBidlsChdlg of said fluid from saidvessel to h l i' CURTIS .P- HQW FJ 0 V r45 eIsQand means includinga pair of valves toconfine 

